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Children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk for many health and behavior problems. Learn how much sleep students need and how many are not getting it.
Importance of Sleep
Children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, injuries, poor mental health, and problems with attention and behavior.1-4
How much sleep someone needs depends on their age. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours per 24 hours and teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours.1
Are Students Getting Enough Sleep?
CDC analyzed data from the 2015 national and state Youth Risk Behavior Surveys.5Students were asked how much sleep they usually got on school nights. Students who were 6 to 12 years old and who reported sleeping less than 9 hours were considered to not get enough sleep. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 years who reported sleeping less than 8 hours also were considered to not get enough sleep.
Students who get enough sleep may have fewer attention and behavior problems.
Middle school students (grades 6-8)
- Students in 9 states were included in the study
- About 6 out of 10 (57.8%) did not get enough sleep on school nights
High school students (grades 9-12)
- National sample
- About 7 out of 10 (72.7%) did not get enough sleep on school nights
Help Your Child Get the Sleep They Need
Parents can support good sleep habits such as:
- Sticking to a consistent sleep scheduleduring the school week and weekends. This means going to bed at the same time each night and getting up at the same time each morning. Adolescents whose parents set bedtimes are more likely to get enough sleep.6To help decide on a good bedtime for your child, go to theBedtime Calculator.external iconexternal icon
- Limiting light exposure and technology usein the evenings.
- Parents can limitwhentheir children may use electronic devices (sometimes referred to as a “media curfew”).
- Parents can limitwheretheir children may use electronic devices (for example, not in their child’s bedroom).
- Other tips for better sleep are available atCDC’s Tips for Better Sleep.
How much sleep someone needs depends on their age. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has made the following recommendations for children and adolescents1:
| Age Group | Recommended Hours of Sleep Per Day |
|---|---|
| 6–12 years | 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours |
| 13–18 years | 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours |
Zzzzzz … Sleepy Kids: Most Students Need More Sleep. Many middle school and high school students do not get the sleep they need.
Wheaton et al. MMWR. Jan 2018.
References
- Paruthi S, Brooks LJ, D’Ambrosio C, et al. Consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children: methodology and discussion. J Clin Sleep Med 2016;12:1549–61.
- Owens J; Adolescent Sleep Working Group; Committee on Adolescence. Insufficient sleep in adolescents and young adults: an update on causes and consequences. Pediatrics 2014;134:e921–32.
- Lowry R, Eaton DK, Foti K, McKnight-Eily L, Perry G, Galuska DA. Association of sleep duration with obesity among US high school students. J Obes 2012;2012:476914.
- Fitzgerald CT, Messias E, Buysse DJ. Teen sleep and suicidality: results from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveys of 2007 and 2009. J Clin Sleep Med 2011;7:351–6.
- Wheaton AG, Everett Jones S, Cooper AC, Croft JB.Short sleep duration among middle school and high school students — United States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:85-90.
- Short MA, Gradisar M, Lack LC, et al. A cross-cultural comparison of sleep duration between US and Australian adolescents: the effect of school start time, parent-set bedtimes, and extracurricular load. Health Educ Behav 2013;40:323–30.
Page last reviewed: September 10, 2020
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As a sleep health expert with a profound understanding of the topic, I can attest to the critical role that adequate sleep plays in the overall well-being of children and adolescents. The evidence supporting the correlation between insufficient sleep and various health and behavior issues is robust and comes from reputable sources in the field.
The article emphasizes the importance of sleep for children and adolescents, highlighting that those who don't get enough sleep are at a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, injuries, poor mental health, and attention and behavior problems. This information is consistent with studies and consensus statements from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, such as the one by Paruthi et al. (2016) and Owens et al. (2014), which provide comprehensive insights into the recommended amount of sleep for healthy children.
The study mentioned in the article, conducted by Wheaton et al. (2018), draws on data from the 2015 national and state Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, analyzing sleep patterns among middle school and high school students. The findings reveal alarming statistics, indicating that a significant percentage of students, both in middle school (57.8%) and high school (72.7%), do not get enough sleep on school nights.
To address this issue, the article offers practical tips for parents to help their children establish good sleep habits. It suggests sticking to a consistent sleep schedule, limiting light exposure and technology use in the evenings, and provides additional resources such as the CDC's Tips for Better Sleep.
Furthermore, the article cites the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's recommendations for the recommended hours of sleep per day based on age groups:
- Children aged 6–12 years: 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours
- Teenagers aged 13–18 years: 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours
The references at the end of the article include studies and reports from reputable sources, reinforcing the validity of the information presented. It's important for parents, educators, and healthcare professionals to be aware of the impact of sleep on students' health and take proactive steps to ensure they get the recommended amount of sleep.
